Little Amber Taylor was supposed to be born this Sunday in a hospital.
Instead, she entered the world nine days early in a car in the hospital carpark - and her father missed it because he was busy trying to find his wife a wheelchair.
The story of Amber'sabrupt birth early on Friday has delighted her first-time parents Andy and Annmarie, and left them chuckling about their experience.
It began about 4.30 am when 28-year-old Mrs Taylor's waters broke.
At that stage there was no panic because the couple's midwife told them labour would last at least nine hours.
"The midwife said it was better to stay at home for the first few hours," Mrs Taylor said.
But by 7 am, the contractions were a lot stronger and the Manurewa couple were advised to drive to Middlemore Hospital.
"I didn't know what to do, I told the midwife 'Hey, my wife's really in pain here'," Mr Taylor said.
His wife kept trying to tell him during the trip that the baby wasn't going to wait but he kept cool, driving at only just over the speed limit. "I kept telling him the head was coming out and he kept telling me, 'Don't be so daft'."
When they arrived outside the hospital, they couldn't get the car near enough to the doors, and Mr Taylor initially told his wife she would have to walk.
"He still didn't believe I couldn't. But I could see the head coming out," Mrs Taylor said.
"He went to get a wheelchair - and when he got back I had her on my chest. He looked really shocked."
They named their 6lb 8oz girl Amber Keira Taylor after briefly toying with the idea of calling her Cara to mark her entry into the world.
Mr and Mrs Taylor emigrated to New Zealand 11 months ago from their home in Wales. Mr Taylor is a teacher at James Cook High School in South Auckland.
Family and friends have been phoning from Wales to ask what it was like having the baby in a New Zealand hospital.
"I have to tell them I don't know," Mr Taylor said.
